By JIM BUTLER

Litigation that began with Alexandria City Council revised reapportionment is taking more turns than the disputed district boundaries. 

The latest — District Judge Mary Doggett setting a May 18 hearing for the city to show cause why its claim for sanctions in the matter should not be tossed. 

The Roy administration and District 4 City Councilwoman Lizzie Felter assert the suit was baseless from the get-go. 

It was filed on behalf of Tracey Snow, Gerber Porter and Agnes Francisco in April 2024 after Felter convinced the Council to revise its previously approved reapportionment plan. The city filed its counterclaim shortly thereafter. 

Jumping to October 2025,  plaintiff’s counsel Malcolm Larvadain, by then elected to the Council, moved to dismiss the matter as resolved. 

A week later he withdrew as counsel and Tiffany Sanders enrolled. 

Two days later Lauve dismissed the case, but overlooked the city’s counter pleading. 

In December she vacated the order as it pertained to the defendants’ claims. 

Also in December the Council reversed the reapportionment vote, reverting to the pre-2024 boundaries. Roy vetoed, the council failed to override. 

In early March this year Larvadain petitioned, successfully, to reenroll in the matter. 

At a late March hearing, records show, he and Sanders argued that since the matter was dismissed in October there are no claims pending before the court and the city’s motions are no longer valid.